A few tips to help you take good care of your beautiful pearls:

· Take your pearls off when applying cosmetics, hair sprays and perfume. These beauty aids are made of chemicals and acids that can harm your pearls.

· Take off your pearls when showering or swimming. It's not good to wet the string, plus the chlorine can damage the pearls.

· Do not use commercial jewelry cleaners on pearls unless the labels say that they are safe for pearls. Many of them contain ammonia, which will cause deterioration.

· NEVER clean pearls in an ultrasonic cleaner.

· Never use detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda, or ammonia- based cleaners on pearls.

· Do not use scouring pads or toothbrushes to clean pearls. They can scratch their surface. · After you wear them, just wipe them off with a soft cloth, very gently. This will prevent dirt from accumulating.

· If the pearls are very dirty, your jeweler can clean them or they can be washed in water and mild soap such as Ivory and cleaned gently with a soft cloth. (Do not use Dawn - it can damage pearls). After washing lay the pearls flat on a moist kitchen towel to dry. After the towel is dry, so should be your pearls. Do not wear them when the string is wet. Likewise, do not hang pearls to dry.

Tooth Test: This is a tip on how to determine if a pearl is real: rub the pearls LIGHTLY and GENTLY (do not bite the pearl!) along the biting edge of your upper front teeth. If they feel gritty or sandy, it's likely they are real pearls. If they feel smooth, they're likely to be imitation. Of course, if in doubt you will have to submit the pearls to a gemological laboratory, such as GIA Gem Trade Lab which will X-ray and examine the pearls and issue a certificate.

After all the tips about your newly acquired pearls, just wear and enjoy them! Pearls are such an important piece in a woman's wardrobe. They can be worn for special and elegant occasions, as well with casual attire, and they always compliment your complexion. Pearls are a true pleasure to wear!